Aliza Sarian
Aliza Sarian is a strategist and educator who works at the intersection of arts, education and social impact. Her career has been defined by a single through-line: the belief that creativity and storytelling are powerful tools for civic engagement and community transformation.
She began her career as a theatre arts teacher in New York City public schools, where she spent over 15 years designing innovative curricula that empowered young people to tell their own stories, devise original theatre, and use the arts as a lens for understanding the world. Her classroom became a laboratory for civic learning, where students not only honed artistic skills but also explored identity, empathy, and social responsibility. Many of her students went on to pursue professional careers in theatre, film, and television, but more importantly, they carried forward the confidence to use their voices in any arena.
Building on this foundation, Aliza expanded her practice to work with institutions and communities beyond the classroom. As Lead Curriculum Specialist with TYTHEdesign, she develops workshops and training programs that help civic organizations, nonprofits, and public agencies strengthen participation, equity, and community voice. Whether collaborating with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, mentoring career-change artists through Lincoln Center, or facilitating professional development for arts and non-arts educators alike, she designs experiences that invite people to see themselves as active agents of change.
Her work has taken her from international theatre incubators to off-Broadway companies, from academic classrooms at New York University and Hunter College to civic forums across North America–and most recently to Asia, where she served as an artist-in-residence at the University of the Arts of Singapore, teaching pedagogy and shaping the next generation of arts educators. Across these settings, Aliza’s contribution remains consistent: she translates the power of the arts into frameworks for civic life, shaping more inclusive, imaginative, and resilient communities.
She holds a B.S. in Theatre Arts Education from Appalachian State University, an M.A. in Educational Theatre from New York University, and a certificate in Drama in Education from Trinity College, Dublin.
